Strawberry plant named ‘Flame’

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a new and distinct strawberry variety designated as ‘Flame’ (a.k.a. ‘108229’).

Latin name of the genus and species: Fragaria×ananassa.

Varietal denominations: ‘Flame’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to new and distinct day-neutral strawberry variety designated as ‘Flame’ (a.k.a. ‘108229’).

‘Flame’ (a.k.a. ‘108229’) is the result of a controlled-cross between a female parent cultivar designated 102850 and a male parent cultivar designated 106734 (both unpatented, proprietary cultivars) made by the Inventor and was first fruited in Watsonville, Calif. growing fields. Following selection and during testing, the plant was originally designated ‘108229’ and subsequently named ‘Flame’.

This new variety was asexually reproduced via runners (stolons) by the inventor at Watsonville, Calif. Asexual propagules from the original source have been tested in Watsonville growing fields and to a limited extent, grower fields in high elevation. The properties of this variety were found to be transmissible by such asexual reproduction. This cultivar was stable and reproduces true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to new and distinctive strawberry cultivar designated as ‘Flame’. This cultivar is primarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions of the central coast of California. This region provides the necessary temperatures required for it to produce a strong vigorous plant and to remain in fruit production from March through October. The nearby Pacific Ocean provides the needed humidity and moderate day temperatures and evening chilling to maintain fruit quality for the production months.

The following traits and photographs in combination distinguish strawberry variety ‘Flame’ from known strawberry varieties. In addition, this new cultivar was confirmed to be a unique strawberry germplasm when tested against the California Seed & Plant Lab, Inc. (Elverta, Calif.) database using Short Sequence Repeats (SSRs). Plants for the botanical measurements in the present application were grown as annuals. Any color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The fruit produced by this new cultivar is attractive and of excellent quality.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color photographs depict various characteristics of the cultivar as nearly true as possible to make color reproductions. Dormant bare root plants of ‘Flame’ were planted on October, Year 1, and the photos were taken around May to June, Year 2.

FIG. 1 shows ripe and near-ripe fruits of ‘Flame’ in May.

FIG. 2 shows sliced fruits of ‘Flame’.

FIG. 3 shows ‘Flame’ plants growing in the field.

FIG. 4 shows ‘Flame’ plant leaves with petioles.

FIG. 5 shows a close-up look of a ‘Flame’ plant leaf.

FIG. 6 shows flower petals and sepals of ‘Flame’ plant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

‘Flame’ (a.k.a. ‘108229’)

This invention relates to a new and distinctive day-neutral type cultivar designated as ‘Flame’. It is primarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions of the central coast of California. This region provides the necessary temperatures required for it to produce a strong vigorous plant and to remain in fruit production from March through October. The nearby Pacific Ocean provides the needed humidity and moderate day temperatures and evening chilling to maintain fruit quality for the production months.

The following traits in combination distinguish strawberry variety ‘Flame’ from the known strawberry varieties. Plants for the botanical measurements in the present application were grown as annuals. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Dormant bare root plants were planted on October, Year 1, and measurements in the table below were taken on November, Year 2.

‘Flame’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions, and the phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment. The following observations, measurements, and comparisons describe this plant as grown under normal conditions in Watsonville, Calif. unless otherwise noted.

Hybrid Patent Data Sheet (Dormant bare root plants were planted on October, Year 1, and measured on November, Year 2) Variety: FLAME (A.K.A. ‘108229’) Plant Plant Growth Habit semi-upright Day length neutral Planting season fall Density of foliage light to medium Average number of 2 crowns per mature plant Plant vigor moderate Rain/weather tolerance moderate Harvest Ease easy Height (mm) 420 Diameter (mm) 495 (the entire plant structure, including the “superstructure” of petioles, leaves, flowers) 161 (inner “base” or “heart” structure of the plant, i.e. the mature apical and axial crowns of the strawberry plant where petioles, flowers and runners are attached) Terminal Leaf Length (mm) 87 Width (mm) 75 Terminal leaflet 1 length/width ratio Blistering none Leaf glossiness weak No. teeth/terminal leaflet 22 shape of the terminal rounded leaflet base shape of terminal leaflet concave in cross-section margin description of the serrate to crenate terminal Shape of teeth obtuse Color of upper side of 136A leaves Color of lower side of 139C leaves presence or absence of absence any leaf variegation Number of leaflets 33 Terminal Leaflet margin flat Terminal Leaflet shape orbicular Terminal Leaflet shape rounded of base Terminal Leaflet shape rounded of apex Petiole Length (mm) 34.1 Width (mm) 3.5 Petiole pubescence medium Petiole pose of hairs outwards Petiole color 145C Petiolule Length (mm) 30 Width(mm) 2 Stolon Count (mm) N/A Diameter (mm) N/A Stolon color 145A Stolon anthocyanin 187A density of pubescence on medium the stolon Stolon number 4 Stolon thickness medium Stolon pubescence medium Inflorescence Petal/flower 6 Inflorescence position relative even to above to foliage flower arrangement of touching petals Number of flowers per 30-40 plant Flower size medium Corolla diameter (mm) 11 Calyx diameter (mm) 15 level of adherence of medium calyx Color of calyx 137A Pose of calyx segments spreading Petal length (mm) 12 Petal width (mm) 9 Petal length/width ratio 1.3 Petal shape orbicular Petal apex rounded Petal margin entire Petal base shape concave Petal spacing overlapping Petal color 155C Sepal length (mm) 12 Sepal width (mm) 16 Sepal shape elliptical Sepal apex convex Sepal margin entire Sepal number per flower 20 Peduncle Stipules Pedicel color 145B attitude of hairs on upwards pedicel Receptacle color 150B Fertility self-fertile Time of flowering March Anther color 20A Anther shape NA Anther size NA Number of stamen 30 Stamen length (mm) NA Number of pistils per NA flower Pistil length (mm) NA Shape of the stigma NA Stigma color NA Style color NA Style length (mm) NA Ovary color NA Pollen color NA Pollen amount NA Filament length NA Filament color NA Fruit Fruit/truss 4 Fruiting truss attitude erect Length (mm) 50 Width (mm) 41 Core length (mm) 40 Core width (mm) 18 Fruit skin color (color 41A code) Fruit weight (g) 25 Relative fruit size medium Predominant fruit shape conical Difference in shape between none to very slight primary & secondary fruits Fruit glossiness medium Position of achenes even Achenes per fruit 136 Achene weight (g) 0.09 Firmness firm Color of the flesh 41A Distribution of flesh entire color Time of fruit ripening April Harvest maturity (50% early of plants with ripe fruit) Type of bearing Day neutral Grams of fruit/plant 912 (Peak season, June) Appearance Score (from 4 1-5, with 5 = best) Storage longevity 7 to 10 days Cull rate: Non salable <10% fruit production rate Disease and pest Not tested resistance: (NA: not available)

When ‘Flame’ is compared to the proprietary female parent, ‘Flame’ has a lower height. The margin of the terminal leaf of ‘Flame’ is serrate to crenate, while the margin of the terminal leaf of the female parent is serrate.

When ‘Flame’ is compared to the proprietary male parent, ‘Flame’ has moderate plant vigor, while the male parent has high plant vigor.

When ‘Flame’ is compared to ‘Seascape’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 07,614), ‘Flame’ has a higher height. The margin of the terminal leaf of ‘Flame’ is serrate to crenate, while the margin of the terminal leaf of ‘Seascape’ is crenate. ‘Flame’ has fewer leaflets per plant when compared to ‘Seascape’. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of strawberry plant named ‘Flame’ substantially as shown and described herein. 